Longtime brewer leaving Sly Fox
Brian O’Reilly to pursue brewing venture in Philadelphia
POTTSTOWN » Sly Fox Brewing Co. has announced that longtime brewmaster Brian O’Reilly will be leaving the company in early July.
According to Thursday’s announcement, O’Reilly is leaving to become part of a new brewing venture in Philadelphia.
Tim Ohst, former operations manager, will be named director of brewery operations and will oversee production.
In a press release announcing his departure, Sly Fox Brewing credits O’Reilly with transitioning the company into a regional independent craft brewing competitor.
O’Reilly began his tenure at Sly Fox in February 2002. At the time, the company consisted of a single brewpub in Phoenixville, according to a press release.
While O’Reilly was brewmaster, Sly Fox won a Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medal for its Helles Golden Lager and has accumulated more than 12 additional awards, including four medals in five years for its Grisette Summer Ale, according to the release.
O’Reilly was also instrumental in the company’s move to add a canning line to the brewery in 2006. Sly Fox was the first craft brewery in the mid-Atlantic re-
gion to add a canning line.
“I’m most proud of the actual growth of the brewing operation,” O’Reilly said in the release. “When we look back at where we came from, scrambling to make beer in the little brewpub to the 30,000-square-foot, 50-hectoliter production brewery, it’s pretty amazing. I’m thankful the Giannopoulos family always strives to provide the resources needed to continually evolve and brew quality beer.”
Sly Fox Brewing Company was established in 1995 by Pete Giannopoulos. As the company began to grow, John Giannopoulos joined his brother at the company and currently serves as managing partner.
“Brian and I grew up together in the beer business over the last 17 years. We’re like brothers, and we’re excited for Brian, but we’re also confident that he’s leaving us in good hands,” said John Giannopoulos in the release. “There are team members in the brewhouse who have an opportunity to step up.”
In 2012, the company opened its 30,000 square foot, 50-hectoliter production brewery on Circle of Progress Drive in Pottstown, along with its Tastin’ Room.
In addition to its Pottstown and Phoenixville locations, Sly Fox is planning additional locations in Wyomissing at the VF Outlets complex, which is being redeveloped, and in Malvern.
According to the release, the Sly Fox Bock Festival and Goat Races was proposed by O’Reilly. In its 18th year, the event attracts more than 5,000 visitors and has been named best beer event in Philadelphia.
The company doesn’t plan to immediately replace O’Reilly.
“As many as five brewers came of age under his tutelage and are poised to contribute to the brewery’s ongoing innovation, sustainability and growth,” the release stated.
“It won’t be a radical change in the brewery, where there are collaborative efforts every day,” O’Reilly said. “The [Sly Fox] team of lead brewers has been managing brewing day to day for years now, efficiently and professionally.”